Poll
Which book would you most likely read and discuss for the October 2019 discussion, from the era known as "proto SF" written before 1920?
Poll added by: Cheryl
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Cheryl
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Aug 17, 2019 07:27AM

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The thing I always think about is:
When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice. � William James
Cheryl wrote: "... did not know that philosophical paradox."
Yeah, I've considered changing my drag name to "Burridan Sass", but I can't decide.
Yeah, I've considered changing my drag name to "Burridan Sass", but I can't decide.
Dan wrote: "The definition of proto SF is not simply "any science fiction work written before 1920." ..."
That's fine. The nomination thread simply stated: "For the October discussion we'll be going back to the roots. Let's read something written before 1920." It doesn't matter whether we call that the "era known as 'proto SF'" or something else. It doesn't even matter that some of those works were published as newspaper serials rather than books.
The nomination process is completed. Vote for one of the selections if you would like to read and discuss it with the group.
That's fine. The nomination thread simply stated: "For the October discussion we'll be going back to the roots. Let's read something written before 1920." It doesn't matter whether we call that the "era known as 'proto SF'" or something else. It doesn't even matter that some of those works were published as newspaper serials rather than books.
The nomination process is completed. Vote for one of the selections if you would like to read and discuss it with the group.

As Jim said "I plan to read whatever I can find. It might be interesting to mix it up & see if there are big enough differences to really matter."

However, it's awfully long. We three, we team of moderators, have decided to offer a second book for those readers who want to participate in a BotM but can't face the door-stopper.
So, come October, you'll have a choice of 20K Leagues, *and/or* the winner of a 'run-off' poll (to be posted momentarily).
I suggested adding a second book from the runners-up because of the long length of the winner and because two of the runners-up are very short. Left to my own devices, I would have offered a second poll between only the two short ones, or used the shortest one, "Runaway Skyscraper", as our "short story of the month", but the other moderators preferred offering all of the choices.
I didn't compare the length of "Leagues" and "Basilisk", but "Leagues" looked very fat on the library shelf. I read long books all the time, but didn't feel in the mood for "Basilisk" mainly because of its length. Some may feel similarly about "Leagues".
I didn't compare the length of "Leagues" and "Basilisk", but "Leagues" looked very fat on the library shelf. I read long books all the time, but didn't feel in the mood for "Basilisk" mainly because of its length. Some may feel similarly about "Leagues".


/topic/show/....

Science f..."
Since The term science fiction came about after 1920, anything before 1920, even if it fits some people's definition of Science Fiction isn't early Science Fiction or Science Fiction because it hadn't been defined or named yet. I think Proto- Science Fiction is the correct term because it is the current terminology used in the publishing world. Just my take.